Pathemari

The life of an expat is a very turbulent one. I would know as the son of an expat myself. The Keralan community would have never prospered as quickly as it did without the influence of the GCC states. It has encompassed sides of things I myself have faced being an NRI, such as the feeling of being a tool to facilitate the ease of another man's life, the delusion that life there means a quick buck is a garunteed, and the breakdown of family relationships. The perils of NRI can never truly be encompassed unless you are one and hence why I believe this movie did a seriously commendable job at addressing what it did. The film is very well made, the acting is excellent and the screenplay is wonderful. It should go down as one of Mammooty's most socially significant movies.

Fantastic movie from great director Salim Ahemed And Great actor MAMMOOTTY A best Class movie from Malayalam Pathemari is an interesting watch that tells you an already familiar story, but in a way that makes you sit up and realize that more often than not, the life of those we know living in the Middle East is not that cozy and comfortable as we often assume it to be. Or at least it was not for those who moved there before it became the buzzing urban centre it is today. A tribute to the hordes of Malayalis who leave home to go work in the Middle East to bring a better life to their families, Pathemari narrates the story of Narayanan (Mammootty) who travels to Dubai as a teenager and spends a major part of his life away from his parents, siblings, wife and children.

As far as the narration goes, the film takes you through familiar territory, like what we have seen in films like Arabikkatha, but let's just say that Pathemari is highly laced with empathy. At the end of the film, you can't help feel empathetic about the suffering and chronic homesickness that every Gulf Malayali or any expatriate would be going through for that matter.

Mammootty, as Narayanan, has delivered an impressive performance. You would really feel for this character who is caught between his own wishes and the needs of his family. Jewel Mary, as Narayanan's wife, has given a subtle yet strong touch to her character. One performance to watch out for is Siddique, who, despite very little screen time, has the most powerful lines and moments in the film.

The director, Salim Ahamed, has narrated this story with a pace and style that is now familiar to us through his last two films Adaminte Makan Abu and Kunjanandante Kada. To note are some one-liners that subtly pass through the scene, but says more than entire scenes put together. Madhu Ambat's camera holds you down from the opening shot. The opening credits of the film show you Dubai in a way you've probably never seen the Emirate before. Resul Pookutty's sound shows through, especially the portions where the sea is involved. Bijibal's score is beautiful and unobtrusive. It serves as the right backing for the manner in which the story has been told. Vijay Shankar's editing is seamless as it takes you to and fro from Kerala in the 60s and forward to the present day.

Best movie i have ever watched...mammootty shows the real life of peoples working in gulf countries

The best movie of 2015..........

Mr Salim Ahmed has really done an amazing work.......

.The way the story is brought up is in fact the real truth about its success...... A realistic story... The end makes our eyes filled with tears........

I highly warn you that this movie should not be watched by weak heart ed people....

This is really a heart touching movie......

Really an amazing movie... I bet that this movie will be loved by everyone...... I request you all to watch this movie............. It is a movie that should be rated as excellent............

Pathemari (2015) : Brief Review -

An Ode to True Hardship Spirit of Migrated Malayalis. A film that touches heart as well as brain with life long message. Pathemari must have been worshipped by many Malayalis i don't know because i am not from Kerala and haven't experience their lifestyle. That little bit i know about them is hardly something and lot indirect and this film is a detailed take on a Malayali's life from 60s decade till his death. I have to admit that it would have worked even better if i had been a Malayali. However, it has worked as human drama for me and that social sense is there in me to understand the life a simple human being affected by migration during 60s when it was actually a serious issue for many south Indians and has remained for decades later too. The plot follows the life of Pallikkal Narayanan who migrated to the Middle-East in the early 1960s, when the Kerala Gulf boom was just beginning. The film shows his life in simple manners, no hardcore drama or melodrama like 90s family movies, just a simple presentation of the actual problems any poor but good man faces. That's it but that's too much to be honest. And then there is uplifting climax with life long message about money, hardship, family and true human spirit with heart touching emotions. The music plays an important role here. You know usually I skip the songs while watching non-hindi/English/marathi movies if it doesn't suit me in first 40 Seconds or so but here every song in Pathemari has worked. I didn't skip a single song and that's a very rare thing to me. You know sometimes while watching any emotional film you wish that there must be a terrific Melodious song at right situations which you can take along with you even after the film is over, Pathemari Title Song is exactly what i ordered. Yet another remarkable performance be legend Mammootty and yet another remarkable film in director Salim Ahamed's short but fantastic filmography.

RATING - 8/10*

By - #samthebestest.